Prior to training on Tuesday morning, Penrith NRL journeyman Kevin Kingston didn't think too highly of halfbacks.

"I thought they were lazy buggers," said the reliable hooker with 107 games of top grade experience.

But his opinion quickly changed after finding out he'd be wearing the Panthers' No.7 jersey against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

Kingston hasn't played halfback since the junior grades, and even then it was just filling in.

But despite the biggest test of his career to come on Friday, April 1, it doesn't seem that Matt Elliott's selection surprise is an April Fool's joke.

The former Cronulla and Parramatta dummy half will run the show for Penrith, while regular halfback Luke Walsh is sidelined with a shoulder problem.

After one training session calling the shots, Kingston has promised to reconsider bagging halfbacks in the future.

"Definitely not, I have a new respect for halfbacks," he said.

"They've really got their work cut out for them that's for sure.

"I think my throat's sore from talking so much and there's so much organising and so much responsibility on your shoulders."

Kingston says five-eighth Travis Burns is a close friend, and is confident their combination will come together on the run.

With dashing from dummy-half one of his main strengths, Kingston has promised he will maintain his running game as much as possible against the Broncos.

"I'll definitely be running it, I'm a hooker generally so my running game's usually my go. But direction of the team is the main goal," he said.

"I won't really set any challenges for myself. I'll just try and be really simple and clear with my calls and try and direct the boys around the park.

"I won't be trying to play like Luke Walsh that's for sure."

"(Elliott) was really supportive ... he makes you feel really confident in the position you're in.

"He's made it quite simple in my game plan and I'm not a halfback so I'm sure there's no extra expectations on me."

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